Stanford, CA—In making decisions about how to address climate change, policy makers routinely perform a cost-benefit analysis that pits the costs of going green against the expected economic damage of climate change. New research out of Stanford paints a picture where the numbers being used in these decisions are far out of touch with reality. The consequence is that global climate change policies may end up being far less aggressive and ambitious than they need to be.

Washington, D.C.—A bill that would require clear labeling of foods with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients, called the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, has been introduced in Congress. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) are lead sponsors of the bill, which is similar to one introduced by Boxer and DeFazio in 2013 but not voted on by Congress.

Tucked into President Barack Obama’s 2016 budget outline is a plan that would radically alter the responsibilities of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as other agencies by creating a stand-alone, federally funded food safety unit.

Silver Spring, MD—Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., who has served as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2009, will resign from the agency in March. FDA’s chief scientist Stephen Ostroff will serve as acting commissioner after this time until the position is filled.